National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mars Science Orbiter

Full Name: Mars Science Orbiter

Phase: Under study

Mission Project Home Page: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/

Program(s): Mars Exploration

---

The Mars Science Orbiter (MSO) is a major infrastructure component for the next decade of Mars exploration. MSO, a Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) – class spacecraft, is proposed for launch in 2011 or 2013, depending on the findings of the Mars Program Planning group. MSO is to provide a combination of science and telecommunications capabilities over nearly a full solar cycle (≈ 11 years).